A meeting of the National Coordination Committee for Housing, Construction and Development, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, decided on Wednesday to send cases of long undue delays in the approval of construction projects to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The prime minister chaired meetings of the National Coordination Committee, the Ravi Urban City Project and the Central Business District Development Project Lahore, and received briefings on the progress on these schemes.
Expressing concern over the approval process in Sindh, the prime minister said that economic activity generated by the promotion of construction activities would directly benefit the people of Sindh.
At the coordination committee meeting, it was decided that all cases of long delays in the approval of construction projects would be referred to NAB so that those who were deliberately delaying the projects could be identified.
Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said that facilitating the people get their own homes was a priority of the government.
“Personal home is the right of every poor and low-income person and the government is committed to facilitate this right in every possible way,” he added.
Earlier, the meeting was informed that a total of 307 housing and construction projects had been approved over 39.83 million square feet since April 17, 2020, while 526 construction projects, covering an area of 64.12 million square feet, were under consideration.
The meeting was also informed that the approved projects have, so far, generated economic activity worth Rs796.5 billion, while the under-consideration projects will generate economic activity worth Rs1.28 trillion. These projects will create 2.5 million direct and 4.5 million indirect employments.
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) informed the meeting that 3,435 construction projects over 11.03 million square feet have been approved, while the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has approved 67 projects over 4.8 million square feet.
Similarly, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approved 121 projects of 12.8 million square feet. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SCBA) has approved 33 projects of 9.1 million square feet while 269 projects of 40.8 million square feet are still under consideration.
Ravi Urban City
Meanwhile, chairing a review meeting on the progress on the Ravi Urban City Project and Central Business Development Project, the prime minister stressed the need for paying special attention to environment protection in both the projects.
The prime minister was informed that 5,400 acres of land has been acquired in the Ravi City project, while 17 kilometres long access road will be constructed for the project. Regarding the environment protection, it was informed that 450 acres of land has been allotted for agri farms.
The premier was also briefed on the progress made so far on the plan to set up the Central Business District (CBD) in Lahore. Officials said that 10,000 trees would be planted in the CBD to protect the environment.
ABAD housing projects
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill said the federal government had decided to approach the NAB to investigate the 269 pending housing projects of Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) in Sindh to fix the responsibility.
Federal government and other provinces were providing all possible support for the execution of ABAD projects, while Sindh government was not cooperating with the association, Gill said while addressing a press conference in the federal capital.
With input from APP
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